A combination of the June/July heat wave and well-below normal levels of rain have left many area rivers with very low flow, meaning tighter water restrictions and more harm to local fish populations. (Dreamstime)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

WATER WOES

Drought conditions & water restrictions increase on bone-dry Vancouver Island

Jul 9, 2021 | 5:20 PM

NANAIMO — Record-high temperatures and well-below average rainfall has led to some of B.C.’s worst drought conditions occurring on Vancouver Island.

The province’s drought index upgraded the East Vancouver Island basin to a four on the 0-5 scale on Wednesday, July 7. The Salmon River watershed in B.C.’s interior was also listed as a four, the highest rating currently across B.C.

Nanaimo’s Millstone River was included in a list of eight areas of concern on eastern Vancouver Island for additional impacts on top of already considerably higher water temperatures and lower water flows.

“Up until about mid-June, up until the heat wave happened, we were tracking a very average and normal level,” Julie Pisani, RDN drinking water and watershed protection program coordinator, told NanaimoNewsNOW. “We had a decent snowpack year this year, we had average stream flow levels but then very steeply and quickly, we started to see a drop off.

On June 21, the Millstone River and the Nanaimo River, near Cassidy were both above 100 per cent of median flow and at a ‘0’ drought level. Both have dropped considerably with some areas, including Englishman River, currently tracking at record lows.

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Monitors are also concerned about the temperature of some streams, with hotter water having ripple effects for local fish populations.

Temperature readings were a major factor in the province raising East Vancouver Island’s rating, according to Pisani.

Eastern Vancouver Island and the Salmon River in B.C.’s interior top the province’s list for worst drought conditions. (BC Government)

The weather monitoring station at Nanaimo Airport has not recorded any precipitation since June 15 with overall values through the spring months well below average.

“The main thing that happened in order to deal with the heat wave, there’s more water use going on for health and safety which is very important, but we also saw folks were still using water for non-essential purposes such as lawn watering and outdoor water use,” Pisani said.

Stage three watering restrictions are in effect across most of the regional district, with the RDN moving to stage four for the Englishman River area on Friday. The City of Nanaimo remains at stage two.

Restrictions under stage three include watering in the early morning or late evening on alternate days depending on your house number.

People are also encouraged to cut sprinkler use for lawns, avoid washing vehicles and sweep outdoor surfaces instead of using a pressure washer or hose.

Pisani said further restrictions to water usage could come as early as next week.

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